Teaching Time

Make one copy of the Character Card Page in color (preferred) or black and white.

Cut out the nine individual character cards.

Measure and cut each paper towel roll into three equal tubes.

If cardstock is used, cut sheets into three equal horizontal strips, then roll strips into tubes and staple closed.

Staple or tape each card to a tube. Important: Attach cards 3,6,7,8 horizontally on tubes.

Place the tubes in an ordered row on the back side of the table, image facing away from the children.

The leader stands behind the table. Use the bullets to ask questions and "guide" the story. Give clues and fill in details as needed. Important: as each tube is selected, pick it up, but don't reveal the image until after a discussion of what happens next. Then, reveal the image and "walk it" into the scene at the front of the table. The tube numbers and instructions are in parenthesis.

Optional: Choose volunteers to "walk" each tube into the scene after it has been identified.

Today, I'd like you to help me tell Jesus' parable. Each tube has a picture from the Bible story.

● (Enter Tube #1) Who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho? A Jewish man.

● (Exit Tube#1, Enter Tube #2) As he walked, who surprised him on the road? Robbers!

● What did the robbers do? They beat him up, took his clothes and money.

● (Exit Tube #2, Enter Tube #3) Did the robbers call for a doctor? No, they left him badly hurt beside the road.

● (Enter Tube #4) Who walked on the road next and saw the injured man? A Jewish priest.

● He was a good neighbor and was kind to the man from his own country, right? No!

● That is surprising, what did the priest do? He looked at the man and walked away.

● (Walk Tube #4 away to exit) Oh no! That isn't what a good neighbor does!

● (Enter Tube #5) Then what happened in the parable? Another Jewish man who worked in the temple walked by and saw the injured man.

● Oh good! What did he do to help? He didn't, he walked past the man, too.

● (Walk Tube #5 to exit) Oh no! Do you think that is being a good neighbor? No!

● (Enter Tube #6 ) What happened next? Another man came by on a donkey.

● (Exit Tube #6, Enter Tube #7) How was this man different than the Jewish traveler? He was from a different country called Samaria.

● He probably didn't help because the Samaritans and Jewish people didn't like each other! Did he also walk by without helping the man? No, he stopped to help him.

● (Exit #6, Enter Tube #7) How did he help the injured Jewish man? He put oil and bandages on his cuts and bruises.

● That's how people cared for injuries back then. Was the Samaritan man a good neighbor? Yes!

● (Exit Tube #7, Enter Tube #8) What happened next? The Samaritan man helped the injured man onto his own donkey and took him to an inn.

● Did he just drop the injured man off at the inn? No, he gave the inn keeper two silver coins to take care of him until he was better.

● (Exit Tube #8, Enter Tube #9) The Samaritan man was very different than the Jewish man, but he chose to be a good neighbor and show kindness and mercy to him.

Now it is our turn to love others even when they are different and to show them God's mercy and kindness. Thank you for helping me tell the Bible story today!